Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-08-21

right 70 rule within himself: now Is the
time to grid on your armor-the shi1ing
bresstplate of temperance and morality.
This il q contest in which every man
fights his own battle, falls in mis- own
defes-, and wears mis- own laurels, il he
wins. Shame to him who voted that our
state might enforce prohibition" and
to- day enters the saloon which is per-
mitted to remsin-enters because he is
no: prohibited, and because be hiss
not the moral manhood to pass on. Verify
such men are weak, and need something
to make them worthy of their great hertz
age Of American liberty. But the evil is
internal ard no eX:erna! application will
reach il. No legislative liniment DOR
prohibition plaster could expel the deep
reaching root. moral tonic to strength
en- the will, to arouse the slumbering self
esteem; to awaken the "better heart" OF
which all men are possessed-:ided ~
that divine help which is ever ready to
Succor the Wesk-Will only enable man to
eradicate the evil OF Misrepresentation
within himself-and not from his brother.
can honest man is the noblest work of
God" This seems to signify that God
makes honest men, and would spoil our
crown Of ''free moral agency" Man, as
God crestes him, endowed with the glori-
Gus attributes Of reason, enshrining the
Immortal spark" within, is the
"noblest work." but he is honest
or dishonest, as he makes HIM
self, bv good or evil choice; and by
early influences and culture, strengthened
and perfected by the approving aid Of
our Father above, the evil Of mans ma
ture may be overcome by the good. So
are "honest men" made honest with the
help Of mother, home and God. And q
man to be honest TO himself nnd 10 those
dependent on him must be temperate.
Intemperarce robs ones self of honor, of
peace and good will, roDs his home OF
content and his children good name,
which makes them ooor indeed" and but
half armed for the battle Of lie. Yet,
temperance is not the great "Sine qua
non" of human peace and prosperity and
happiness, nor does il insure either con-
ditio1 to its adherents, bu. it is virtue,
without which no man csn he wholly true
10 himself. l. enhances the value and
beauty Of character already great and
averts g shade Of darkness from lives
otherwise hopeless and wretched.
1t is not the corner stone in the rear
ing Of that sublime structure, fawless
character. IT'S neither the "Plllar OF
strength or OF Beauty" but it is the
"Cap Stone" without which the grand
temple is unfinished. i man may be
great in mental capacity, mighty in the
councils Of peace and dGuntlees in War
His heart may be warmed by impulses
most generous and kind, yet this greet
neral soap Stone" Of temperance may
DE lacking, and the admirable editice il
incomplete. AGd while we extol the
grandeur of its design we cen but regre'
that it stands unfinished, imperfect.
Temperance is g 'selt-cOntrol which
coupled with virtue, Increases, sustain!
and strengthens 1t; and ii combination
/ with vice c0nsummates crime too darl
and deep for the bewilderirg powers o
/ intoXiC2ti0n 10 c0ntIive. Thus the ont
is not the antidote for every social enc
moral evil, nor the other the Pandora boz
from whence all evils spring.
Temperance IS strength. II makes thu
"good man" more successful, and tht
"bGd m&n" more capable OF "treason
strategy and spoil" Intemperance i
weakness. II deprives the "wise man
of wisdom, and the villain OF his cunning
We honor the first, when it eviICes mOra
power to restrain evil and accomplish
good. We despiae the opposite rs weak
ness and condemn it as violation 0
"natuTe's law Of self preservation"
Man is free to choose. No law ma
compel him to be strong or weak; no
the rewards OF temperance end moralit
be forced upon him. A sovereign With
himself, he holds the "Open sesame" t
his own domain,
All honor to him, WHO, without infringe
ment upon his OWL "inGliencble right {
choice, can master himself" and wit
unfaltering step, proceed in the paths {
virtue and honor; not through clear {
punishment" If he calls by the way,
but impel!ed by the prsiseWorthy chop
OF reward" for the faithful.
SOUTHERN MOTHER.